TAMPA, Fla. — Master Patrol Officer Jesse Madsen, who was killed early Tuesday morning in a wrong-way traffic crash, has been posthumously awarded the Police Purple Shield, Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan announced Thursday. 

What You Need To Know

Officer Madsen, a 45-year-old highly decorated officer who was a 16-year veteran of the department, was killed while responding to calls about a wrong-way driver on Interstate 275.

New information found that Officer Madsen drove his patrol vehicle into the path of the wrong-way driver in an attempt to stop him from harming anyone else. 

The crash occurred around 1 a.m., as Joshua Montague, 25, entered I-275 at Busch Boulevard, driving southbound in the northbound lanes. Data collected from Montague's vehicle shows he was traveling at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. Data collected from Officer Madsen's patrol vehicle reveals that he was traveling at approximately 65 miles per hour at the time when his vehicle took two sharp turns, veering into Montague's path of travel, just before hitting Montague's vehicle.

Both Officer Madsen and Montague were killed in the crash.

"These findings simply show what anyone who knew Officer Jesse Madsen personally would tell you: He was a true American hero," said Chief Brian Dugan. "By deliberately swerving his patrol car into the other driver's path of travel, we believe Officer Madsen was attempting to stop this wrong-way driver from putting anyone else's life in danger by laying down his own."

The Police Purple Shield is presented to officers who suffer an extreme physical injury or death in the line of duty. Officer Madsen was also awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest medal awarded to any employee who distinguishes themselves by an act of heroism at the cost of imminent personal danger.

His family will receive the Gold Cross Award, presented families of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. 

"We will never forget the bravery that Officer Madsen showed that night or the sacrifice he made to protect members of our community. While we are still mourning as a department, our jobs must continue. We will keep fighting to make our roadways safer for anyone traveling in Tampa, and we will do it with an even greater purpose after losing one of our own in such a senseless and avoidable DUI crash," said Chief Dugan.

To honor the life of Officer Madsen, a public candlelight vigil is being held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Tampa Police Headquarters. The vigil is open to the public.